Jobpath question

Midlife crisis man

I have just finished college for the summer and I'm temporarily switched back to Job Seekers for the summer, I also have a part-time job while being at college and hope to get extra shifts now that I have more free time.

I got a letter in the post this week asking me to attend a Jobpath meeting next week and if I don't, apparently my payments could be affected.

My question is, do I need to attend? Should I ring them and explain my situation. I mean, its not going to look good on my cv if I leave my part time job of 2 years to get a full time job for 12 weeks, just to leave it again come September when I return to college (not to mention I would then be jobless and unable to pay my way)

Or should I just ignore the letter?

Edit: Also, if I had to leave my job and take up another full-time job, would I be able to continue getting my BTEA when I return to college?

Midlife crisis man

I was doing a bit of looking up on Jobpath. It seems to be for people who are long-term unemployed. As I am a student and I have a part time job since I started college I am not long-term unemployed, so I assume there was a mix-up at the DSP when they sent me a letter. Would it be best for me to ring the DSP first to clarify?

Whiplashy

It used to be for long term unemployed but that seems to have changed. I was unemployed for less than a month when I got sent to them. I'd try ringing social welfare as once you get signed up with Jobpath they're a nightmare to get rid of. I'm currently waiting for illness benefit. I've notified Jobpath. I've to send them in a doctors cert every week while I'm waiting which I've been doing. I still got a letter off them with a new appointment this morning.

Midlife crisis man

I have been trying to ring the DSP all day and they weren't answering the phone. I'm not long off the phone to the Jobpath people and the guy on the phone couldn't answer any of my questions. I'm guessing the call centre is in England and he hasn't a clue about BTEA or any welfare. He just told me that I absolutely have to attend my appointment and there'll be a person from the DSP there who can answer my questions on the day. He also told me that they'll ring my boss and see if they can give me full time work. I told him I'm perfectly capable of asking my employer myself and that I would be taking on extra shifts now that the summer is here

Whiplashy

Try and get into your local welfare office before your Jobpath appointment to talk to them about it. Jobpath are not the people to be talking to about getting out of it! I had an interview the same day as my first appointment and they insisted on getting me in earlier so that they could get me signed up in case I got the job. The day of your appointment they'll have you sign forms that sign you up to them for 12 months. There is someone there from the welfare office but they only go through a short presentation to the group of people and then they leave. If you get someone decent in the welfare office you should have a good chance of getting out of it given your situation.

Midlife crisis man

Thanks for your reply. I really need to keep this job because its an evening job that fits round my college schedule and I'd be worried I wouldn't be able to land another job in September if I had to give it up. Plus I don't want to do anything to hinder going back on BTEA as I need that to make ends meet.

Unfortunately with the bank holiday, the next chance I'll get to go into the DSP is Tuesday and my appointment is for Wednesday so it might be cutting it tight.

Whiplashy

I met a girl on a course that Jobpath sent me on. She was employed part time. She refused to give up her job so they focused on trying to find her another part time job to bring her hours up to full time. If you can't get out of it, tell them you're more than happy to try for another part time job but you're keeping your current one. Once you switch back to BTEA you'll be rid of Jobpath. But since you'll have signed up to them for 12 months, you'll be sent straight back to them as soon as you switch to jobseekers again.

Midlife crisis man

Whiplashy wrote: »

Once you switch back to BTEA you'll be rid of Jobpath. But since you'll have signed up to them for 12 months, you'll be sent straight back to them as soon as you switch to jobseekers again.

I'm fine with that. I'm heading into my last year of college so come next summer I'll hopefully have landed my career job by then.

That's a great suggestion about looking for a second part time job